dieter



W. DIETER.

AUTOMOBILE TORPEDO.

APPLICATION men FEB. 26. 1918.

1,303,038 Patented May 1919.

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WITNESS v By Attorneys,

8W Qwulc UNITED STATES PATENT DIETER, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 'rO E. w. BLISS COMPANY, OF

Specification of Letters Patent.

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

AUTOMOBILE TORPEDO.

Patented May 6, 1919.

Application filed February 26. 1918. Serial No. 219.203.

1 To all whom it may (.071107'11:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM DIETER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the borough'of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automobile torpedoes having automatic steering mechanism, such as the well-known gyroscopic steering mechanism. The purpose of the invention is to make provision for interrupting the normal steering after the torpedo has completed a predetermined portion of its normal run and to thereupon cause the torpedo to steer in an approximately circular course.

The general nature and objects of the invention are the same as those fully set forth in my application for patent filed February 8, 1918, Serial No. 216.102. to which reference may be made for a general description thereof. The present invention provides certain improvements of or moditications of the apparatus set forth in said application.

According to the present invention instead of providing mean-s extraneous to the ordinary steering engine or servo-motor for dominating it, or forcibly overcoming its operation, the circle steering means is made to include the normal steering engine and to modify its mode of operation so that it shall operate the rudder in the normal manner until the initiation of the circle steering, whereupon it. will act to hold the rudder to one side orthe other, so as to steer as predetermined to either port or starboard in a circular course. The present invent-ion also provides means for insuring against or adJuSting the mechanism to initiate the circle steering operation upon a given point in the run.

Fig. 7 is a transverse section on the line 7-7 in Fig. 6.

Fig. .8 is a front side elevation, looking from the right in Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is an enlargement of that part of Fig. 2, showing the cam and air valve. the latter being in section.

Referring first to the diagram, Fig. 1, A

designates a launching tube and B designates the course of a torpedo launched therefrom. The figures 4,000, 10,000 and 15,000 marked on this course may be taken as indicating yards or meters. B indicates (to a magnified Scale) a circular course which may b steered by the torpedo. which in this case commences at 4.000 yards. B in dotted lines indicates a similar circular course which may commence at 10,000 yards. These figures are given as illustrations, since the circular course may begin at any point after a suitable interval in the run of the torpedo sufficient to carry it far enough away from the point of launching to avoid danger to the torpedo boat from which it is launched. or other vessels of the same fleet. In the illustration given. 15,000 yards is assumed as the total normal straight run of the torpedo.

The full lines show the launching of the torpedo in the normal manner by aiming the launching tube at the target. The diagram shows in dotted lines at the left, the case of the so-called angle fire in which the tor pedo tube. indicated at A, is aimed in a direction removed by a given number of degrees from the ultimate straight course B of the torpedo. the steering mechanism being set to steer through the circular arc indicated at a. which continues until the torpedo has been steered through an arc of the prescribed number of degrees. whereupon the steering mechanism is released in a wellknown manner and thereupon functions nor- 60 i isthrown alternately to port and starboard) mally to steer the torpedo on its straight.

course B. In referring to .B as a straight course it is understood that this term is used in a general sense, since the steering apparatus, .used in torpedoes actually steers a slightly sinuous course, veering alternately -.to opposite sides of the line of aim, the'rudder being thrown alternately, to port and starboard in the normal functioning of the gyroscopically-controlled steering; mechanism. The course shown at B in the diagram is therefore the general course steered, being the mean of the successive arcs or sinuosities, which would be imperceptible in a diagram on the scale here given.

Referring to Fig. 2, C designates the propeller shaft or shafts for driving in the usual manner the propeller. screws which turn in contrary directions. D design-ates,

' as a-whole, the usual gyroscopic steering mech-.

anism, which comprises a steering engine E (or any other equivalent steerlng mechanism)which, through the usual, tiller rod .b operates the tiller 0 for turning the rudders at. Compressed air from the air flask passes through a pipe 7''. to a pressure-reducing valve 9, and thence at reduced pressure by pipe 72, to the usual superheater- F, and thence by pipe 2' to the engine, which latter (not shown) may be a reciprocating englne or turbine, as preferred. The engine drives in the usual manner the. propeller shaft 0. All of the parts thus far referred to are customary in torpedoes and may be of the usual or any suitable construction, and form no part of the present invention.

The present invention requires first some suitable form of timing or reducing mechanism for bringing about the initiation of the steering of the circular course at any desired point in the run of the torpedo, and so that this period may be determined by the operator before the launching ofthe torpedo.

In the construction shown, the timing mech- For accomplishing the circle steering according to this invention, it is essential to terminate the normal steering operation (whereby at repeated intervals the rudder and toy so operate on the tiller as to throw the rudder to one side and hold it there during the period of steering such circular course. Obviously, this result may, be aceomplished in various ways, as, for example, by discontinuing the alternate movements of the steering engine or by so dominating the latter that its continued alternate movements or efforts are impotent to throw the rudder. In the specific construction set forth in my said prior application the means for accomplishing this result is an air engine or cylinder operated by compressed air.

operated by the cam projection j admit the compressed air at the proper instant into one end of the steering engine (or so-called servomotor) whereby the plunger isthrown over or held over to one extreme position, notwithstandin this engine under control of the gyroscope to reverse the.air pressure, and thereby resume the normal steering function of the engine. The preferred construction foreccomplishing this will now be described.

'A special air valve H is provided which receives air at reduced pressure from the low pressure side of the reducer 9 through a ip'e k. This valve is normally closed, but wen opened by the cam j it admits compressed air through a pipe I to one end of the cylinder E of the normal steering engine or servo-motor. This engine is constructed precisely as heretofore, that is to say, it has the usual slide valve 10, piston 11, and piston rod 12,v the latter beingcoupled to the tiller rod b. 'The effect of thus admitting compressed air through .the pipe Z is to subject the piston 11 to an air pressure on its forward side in excess of that on its aft side, the difference. being due to the area of cross section of the piston rod ,12. Hence if the piston happens to be in the position shown in Fig. 4, it is held. in that position notwithstanding I the subsequent effort of the valve '10 to return it by directing compressed air into the cvlinder on the aft side of the piston. If, however, the valve happens to be in an opposite position, with the piston at the forward end of its stroke, the4pressure introduced through Z overcomes the opposing pressure, and displaces the piston to the a t end of its stroke. It results that the rudder is'deflected, to or held deflected at the posltion shown in Fig. 5, so that it steers the torpedo througha circular course, such as indicated at B or B in Fig. 1.

the effort of the valve of The airvalve- H may be of any suitable construction, and should be a leakless valve.

* from the terminal gear 9, t en turned to the so as to avoid the possibilityof accidental or premature admission of compressed air into the forward end of the engine cylinder E.- The construction of valve shown in detail in Fig. 9 is'the same as that set forth in my previous application, the same letters of reference bein used and need not here be again describe It is operated by the cam projection j, pushing in the valve plunger a, which punctures the diaphragm 8, thus admitting air from In into Z.

It s essential to enable the operator to determine'before launching the torpedo at what point in its run the circle steering shall begin, and for this purpose, the timing mechanism is made adjustable at will by'providing that the cam Gmay be turnedfat the outfor example, the gear 9 carrying the cam G.

may be proportioned to execute one revolution in 15,000, or somewhat over 15,000

yards. If the circle steering is commenced at, say, 4000 yards, the cam G has to be set initially to bring its projection j to a corresponding fraction of the total circular movev ment in advance of the operative movement of the stem to; if the circle steering is to begin at any later pointin the course, the cam has'to be set that much farther-back. Means for. this urpose is set forth in my said prior app ication, and consists of a construction whereby the cam G ma be disconnected required position, and then reconnected with said gear. According to the presentinvem tion the gear 9 and cam G are permanently united, and. the gear is itself displaced axially tocarry it, out of mesh with'the worm 8, whereupon it may be turned to the required' position, and then restored into mesh wi h the worm. 1, J

The present invention also 1 provides a means. whereby it is rendered impossibleto f restore the cam until it is moved "to, such position as to insure, the operationof the circle steering mechanism ata point beyond the minimumdistance (forexample 4000 yards) at which the safely" be initiated.

Th ractical construction is th h shOWl1 111 Figs."6,.7-and8. The cam G is here shown as riveted or otherwise fixedly united to the gear 9 which is keyed or other wise fixedly united to a longitudinally movable and rotatable spindle w whichpasses w in the side of the This spindle has at itsouter end a head w" formed with a specircle steering may 'ciall shaped socket adapted to receive a special tool such as shpwn in dotted lines at J which is'adapted to engagethe socket and pull the spindle'outwardly, and there-' upon to turn the spindle to any desired po-- In the special construction shown sition. the head w" has a socket with radial holes to be engaged by transverse toe on the key J, whereby the )he out and turned. 1 The axial movement accomplished by thus pulling out the headcarries the gear, 9 out of mesh with the worm 8, as shown in Fig. 6." -Th e parts may thenbe turned to bring the cam G to the desired position, whereupon the operatorpushes backadmay be both pulled the head '10 and restores-their parts to operative position, the gear 9 entering again into 'mesh with the worm 8. To enab e the oper-.

ator. to determine in thus settin the mechanism the point in the runlat whlch the circle steering shall begin, an exterior circular.

graduated scale is provided which maybe arranged as shown in Fig. 8. Where the graduations e are marked on the rim of the head w, and are read with reference to a pointer y marked. on the rim of. the fittingm. On

/ the graduated scale a portionor zone a" shown in black'in Fig. 8 is so marked as to indicatethe forbidden zone .of danger, being that-within the point (for-example, 4:000

yards) at which itis determined unsafeto start the circle steering.- 1

An important object of the present inven-. tion is toprovide positive means for safeguarding against the accidental-setting of the circle steering means to b tion within this forbidden or unsafe zone. [This is accomplished by; providing means which when the cam isaxlally displaced in.

s'haped edge 15 mounted through the me-" dium of a connection 1f} upon the fittin w or other suitablestationary part. The 1e go 15 comprises an arc of such number of degrees as equals the forbidden zone'z' (allowing for the thickness of the pawl l4) In the normal or'operative' position of the camand other arts the pawl 14 is out of engagement with "-t e ledge 15, as-shown in Fig. 3. In pulling back the spindle w to the shown in Fig. 6, this awl'14 passest e ledge 15 and s rings out be ind it as shown. Then if any e ort is made to restore the spindle to without turnin it enoughto bring the pawl 14 beyond the edge 15, they engagement of these parts blocks and prevents the restoration of the spindle w and holds the gear 9 egin to func- 1position out of mesh with the worm 8, and therefore inoperative. But when the s indle has been turned to any point beyond t e danger zone 2, the pawl 14 scarried beyond-the'ledge. 15

. and the spindlemay then be freely restored.

Any suitable construction of spring-pressed pawl maybe used in place'of the precise construction shown, and the. ledge15 may be variously'mounted and applied, it being only essential that in the coaction ofthese two parts they shall engage. and prevent the'res-' toration of the cam until turned beyond .the

forbidden zone. Thus a positive safeguard is provided against any inadvertent setting 1. In a torpedo comprising pro elling and automatic steering mechanism a apted normally to'steer a straight course, means for causing the torpedo after'traversing part of its normal straight run to then steer a circular course, such means comprising a tim ng 4 device for bringing it into actlon at a determined point in the run of the torpedo,

and means'supplemental to the normal steer- I ing control for controlling said steering cause' it to hold the rudder to 'tingmeans adapted to axially displace said i cam toenable it to be turned to an angular wherein the steering mechanism comprises" w a steering engine, the controlling means sup-.

' plementalto the normal means for controlling said engine, adapted -to admit fluid whereby to force it or hold it to one position. v

' .3. In a torpedo according to claim 1,

mechanism to one side.

2; In a torpedo according to claim 1,

under pressure to saidengine,

. wherein thesteerifng mechanism consists of a compressed air engine,"the controlling 1 means comprising an air valvegperated from the'timing device, such valve being addi i tional to that of said eg gine,and a connecition therefrom toLone end of the cylinder of .45 said engine, whereby on the opening of said air valveit presses the piston thereof to the 'oppos'ite'end of the cylinder.

4; In a torpedo comprising propelling and automatic steering mechan1sm,. means for causing the torpedo, after traversing part of its run, to then steer-a circular course, such means comprising a timing device for bring.-

-ing'it into action at a determined pointin the run of the torpedo, a means for controlling the tiller to hold the rudder to one side, such i to commence such circle steering prematurely.

5; In a torpedo according to claim 4, such safety means comprisingv an are -shaped part, and a 'reciprocally'e'nga'ging part, the one stationary and the other movable, adapted when in engagement to. prevent the setting of the "circle steering mechanism so as tb institute prematurely the steering of the circular course.

6'.--In a. torpedo according to claim 4, a cam' driven. by sald reducing train, and setposition corresponding to the oint in the range at which the circle steering shall begm. 1 J

-7. Ina torpedo according to claim 4, the terminal ar'of the reducing trai-n adapted for axial displacement to bring it outof mesh withits driving member of said train and permit it to be displaced angularly for determining at what point in the run of the torpedo the circle steering shall commence.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto' signed my name.

wiLLIAM'DiETER. 

